"I'm going to line up acts for Sunday nights because there's nothing really downtown that has live music then; I'm going to try and grab some of that market," said Mr. Perry, who plans to start the Sunday music nights in March.

The referendums can also address details such as hours. Richmond County law allows restaurants to serve up to 2 a.m. Monday morning; Columbia County requires sales to cease at midnight.

Columbia County started allowing Sunday liquor sales at restaurants in 1996.

Both bars and restaurants in Aiken County are allowed to serve alcohol on Sundays.

Columbia County's new ordinance banning smoking in public establishments has put a damper on Sunday night sales for some businesses.

"The crowd at the bar is kind of dead now," said Omaira Ramos, manager of the Applebee's on Belair Road.

But Charles Dudley, owner of Dudley's Dawg House Sports Bar and Grill in Martinez, said he hasn't seen such ill effects of the smoking ban on Sunday. However, he thinks Columbia County's early last-call rule has more of an effect.

"It forces us to close, but it's working out kind of well, they come in and start the night then leave to go somewhere else," he said.